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ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420 vs Noctua NH-D12L: Comparison
What is the difference between ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420 and Noctua NH-D12L?
The gap that matters here is fan count: ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420 3 against Noctua NH-D12L 1, which puts ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420 67% ahead. Add airflow to that, 72.8 CFM on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420 versus 60.09 CFM on the Noctua NH-D12L, and the pattern holds. Add max speed to that, 1700 RPM on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420 versus 2000 RPM on the Noctua NH-D12L, and the pattern holds. There is a split on fan size as well, 140 mm on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420 versus 120 mm on the Noctua NH-D12L.
Which should you buy, ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420 or Noctua NH-D12L?
Take the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420 for buyers who want the largest available Liquid Freezer III radiator without paying Pro-tier ARGB pricing. It is equally the pick for extreme overclocking or high-TDP workstation builds needing roughly 320W of headroom. It is not the one for cases that can't fit a 420mm radiator, which needs a genuinely large chassis. The Noctua NH-D12L is the one to take for builds with tall heatsink-covered RAM modules and quiet-focused mid-range and upper-mid-range CPUs, though it is not the pick for extreme overclocks needing maximum dual-fan airflow and buyers wanting RGB aesthetics. Our rating of the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420 (9/10): one of the best value-per-degree AIOs available at any radiator size, now in its largest non-Pro form. Our rating of the Noctua NH-D12L (8.3/10): an excellent no-compromise pick when tall RAM rules out a standard dual-fan tower.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420 and Noctua NH-D12L differ on static pressure?
Yes. Static Pressure reads 2.4 mmH2O on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420 versus 2.34 mmH2O on the Noctua NH-D12L.
Is the RGB Lighting the same on the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420 and Noctua NH-D12L?
It is. Both are listed at No, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420
- ARCTIC
- Noctua NH-D12L
- Noctua
Cooler Type
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420
- AIO Liquid
- Noctua NH-D12L
- Air Tower
Series
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420
- Noctua NH-D12L
- Noctua NH-D12L
Model Number
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420
- ACFRE00137A
- Noctua NH-D12L
- NH-D12L
Socket Compatibility
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420
- AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1851/1700
- Noctua NH-D12L
- AMD AM5/AM4, Intel LGA1954/1851/1700/1200/115X
Tower Layout
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420
- Not Applicable
- Noctua NH-D12L
- Dual-Tower
Fan Count
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420
- 3Best
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 1-67%
RGB Lighting
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420
- No
- Noctua NH-D12L
- No
Cooler Weight
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420
- 2235 g
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 890 gBest
Fan Size
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420
- 140 mm
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 120 mm
Max Speed
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420
- 1700 RPM-15%
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 2000 RPMBest
Airflow
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420
- 72.8 CFMBest
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 60.09 CFM-17%
Static Pressure
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420
- 2.4 mmH2O
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 2.34 mmH2O-3%
PWM Control
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420
- Yes
- Noctua NH-D12L
- Yes
Warranty
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420
- 6 years
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 6 years
Fans
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420
- 3x P14 PWM, 140mm
- Noctua NH-D12L
- 1x NF-A12x25r PWM 120mm
Which one should you pick?
Choose ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420 if you want the higher fan count (3 vs 1), the higher airflow (72.8 CFM vs 60.09 CFM) and the higher static pressure (2.4 mmH2O vs 2.34 mmH2O).
Choose Noctua NH-D12L if you want the higher max speed (2000 RPM vs 1700 RPM).
Price comparison
| Retailer | ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420 | Noctua NH-D12L |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420
9 / 10 Expert Rating
One of the best value-per-degree AIOs available at any radiator size, now in its largest non-Pro form.
Noctua NH-D12L
8.3 / 10 Expert Rating
An excellent no-compromise pick when tall RAM rules out a standard dual-fan tower.